Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-29
THE INFECTED SHIP.
A STARTLING STORY OF DEFICIENT QUAR-
ANTINE SERVICE
An Italian Daily Visiting the VESSEL With Fruits
and Provisions Alarm Excited
Among the Clt1sns-RspOvt De-
uisd BY the Authorities.

NEW YORK, September 25.-Cholera has
ere now spread from one country to an.
other by means. of an infected garment,
and it is among the possibilities that
cholera will be brought into this city or
Brooklyn by infected fruit, -four or some
similar means. Cholera spreads by con-
tagion, and by eontsgion it can spread it
self through the country from the germs OF
the plague on board the Alesia.
The medium of contagion in this case
may be fearless and quickwitted Italian,
Francisco Sersa, who is both banker,
fruit vender and grocer, and who lives at
No. 40 Union street, Brooklyn. For some
time past he has made morning and even
ing trips to the Alesia for the purpose OF
supplying those on boaId with bread,
fruit, fish and other edibles. He has made
no secret of the matter, and all his neigh
bors know what he has been doing and
wonder at his hardihood. One or two OF
them, however, think that he ought to
stay at home, and refuse 10 shake hands
with him for fear he may give them the
cholera.
A reporter heard about these trips yester-
day afternoon, and called at Sersa's store
in order to find ont if the story could pos.
sibly be true. One side of the store is de-
voted to vegetables and groceries and the
other to a banking business. youthful
banker was the only person present, and
the reporter asked him when Sersa would
return from his trip TO the Alesia. A
neighbOr had told the reporter that Sersa
bad started for the Alesia at three o'clock.
Speaking with strong Neapolitan &C.
cent the youth replied in very broken Eng
glish: "Ah, he come back, aybe, maybe
much later"
HE goes to the Alesia every day, I'M
derstand?" insinuated the reporter.
"Ges, morning and evening; he carry
bread TO peoples on board" was the reply.
when will he start tomorrow morn
ing?' asked the reporter finally.
"At seven o'clock he get the boat ready
ne does 80 every day. was the answer.
Leaving the store, the reporter went 10
the house of a gentleman who lives close
by and asked him why Sersa's neighbors
had not complained about him to the au-
thorities. His reply was, "Oh, don't
know. Italians are singularly careless in
that way. They thought, suppose, that
Sersa was trying to turn an honest penny
and did not like to interfere with him.
But I'm of different opinion, / assure
you. wouldn't shake hands with Sersa
for any money, simply because | don't
want TO catch the cholera Sersa himself
says that it's foolish TO be scared about
cholera, and he can't understand why any
one should be afraid TO go near him.
"But | say this thing should be stopped
and hope it will he done. If the au-
thOTities are inclined TO be so careless they
should be brought TO a sense of their duty
at once. 1t is monstrous to suppose that
cholera can be kept out oil country as
long rs strangers arc allowed to board an
infested vessel and sell provisions to the
passengers and crew. Why, Sersa, am
told, goes down into the cabin and cuts
the bread for the passengers ~
The boat used by Sersa, il hired, and lis
crew consists of Sersa, his brother-in-law
and one other young Italian. The usual
cargo comprises from two to four wagon
loads of edibles.